"Everyone loves to go (to The Patio). (Brian) is so open-armed and willing to help everyone," she said. "They were probably three of the best men in Blanding. It was rough on all of us. We're just all really close in this town."

Acton, 51, wasn't originally from Blanding but had been in the area so long that he was considered a native son, Turk said. Acton, who had a son currently on Mormon mission, was a former LDS bishop and was working for Sysco Foods at the time of his death.

"He was the person we called for our orders," said Sharon Guymon, owner of the Homstead Steak House. "I talked to him for an order last night. It's a tremendous loss. All of the men were pillars of the community."

"He is straight-up the nicest guy I know," Emma Bayles added.

Johnson was the pilot, said Turk, who described Johnson as an experienced pilot who the day before had flown with two other city leaders to Salt Lake to help get funding for a new wellness center in Blanding.

Johnson's father was killed a couple of years ago in an ultra-light plane crash, Turk said.

Johnson was the main electrician at Northern Electric, according to residents. He also coached his son's baseball team.

"I know all three men. All three were really good men. It's a hardship on the town," said Ted Black, who works at True Value Hardware. "It just feels like there's a wet blanket over the whole town. You just don't believe stuff like that until you here it from more than one source. They were really good guys, all of them. Really nice men."

All flags in Blanding were lowered to half-staff Friday.

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E-mail: preavy@desnews.com